How to Treat Severe Lung Infections Using Ceftolozane and Tazobactam
A medical treatment method for severe, hospital-acquired pneumonia using a specific, recurring intravenous dose of the antibiotic combination ceftolozane and tazobactam.
Original patent title: “Methods for treating intrapulmonary infections”
A medical treatment method for severe, hospital-acquired pneumonia using a specific, recurring intravenous dose of the antibiotic combination ceftolozane and tazobactam. Granted to Merck Sharp and Dohme LLC in 2018 with 12 claims.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
The patent outlines a specific medical regimen for treating pneumonia, particularly infections acquired in hospital settings or via ventilators. It requires the intravenous administration of 2.0 grams of the antibiotic ceftolozane, combined with tazobactam, every 8 hours. The claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more → specify that this infusion should last for 60 minutes to be effective against common, stubborn pathogens like Pseudomonas aeruginosa, E. coli, and K. pneumoniae.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover oral administration of these antibiotics.
- Does not cover dosages other than the specified 2.0 grams of ceftolozane.
- Does not cover treatment regimens administered at intervals other than every 8 hours.
- Does not cover the chemical synthesis of the drugs themselves.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
The innovation lies in identifying the precise 'pharmacokinetic window'—the specific dose and 8-hour frequency—that maintains enough of the drug in the lungs to effectively kill resistant bacteria without causing toxicity.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Zerbaxa (a commercial antibiotic product containing ceftolozane and tazobactam)
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This patent protects a specific clinical dosing protocol for a potent antibiotic combination. By defining the exact dosage and timing required to fight resistant hospital-acquired pneumonia, it provides a clear legal framework for how this medication is prescribed and marketed in clinical settings.
Filed
June 21, 2017
Granted
July 24, 2018
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Merck Sharp and Dohme LLC, the assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →, remains the primary entity utilizing this protocol for their antibiotic product, Zerbaxa. Other pharmaceutical companies researching antibiotic resistance continue to study similar beta-lactamase inhibitor combinations to combat multi-drug resistant organisms.
Market impact
This patent helps secure the commercial viability of the Zerbaxa product line by protecting the specific clinical application method. It reinforces the importance of dosing protocols in the antibiotic market, where efficacy against resistant bacteria is a critical competitive differentiator.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
The patent outlines a specific medical regimen for treating pneumonia, particularly infections acquired in hospital settings or via ventilators. It requires the intravenous administration of 2.0 grams of the antibiotic ceftolozane, combined with tazobactam, every 8 hours. The claims specify that this infusion should last for 60 minutes to be effective against common, stubborn pathogens like Pseudomonas aeruginosa, E. coli, and K. pneumoniae.
The clever bit
The innovation lies in identifying the precise 'pharmacokinetic window'—the specific dose and 8-hour frequency—that maintains enough of the drug in the lungs to effectively kill resistant bacteria without causing toxicity.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover oral administration of these antibiotics.
- Does not cover dosages other than the specified 2.0 grams of ceftolozane.
- Does not cover treatment regimens administered at intervals other than every 8 hours.
- Does not cover the chemical synthesis of the drugs themselves.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Limited data
Citation count
0/40
No citations yet
Claim breadth
8/20
Moderate scope
Recency
10/20
Granted 5–10 years ago
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$56K – $180K
Midpoint $113K · 11.0 yr remaining · industry ×3.0
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
The original legal language
Original claims
12 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Parsons, T., Umeh, O. C., Chandorkar, G. A., & Huntington, J. A. (2018). How to Treat Severe Lung Infections Using Ceftolozane and Tazobactam (U.S. Patent No. 10,028,963). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10028963/biktarvy-bictegravir-taf-ftc
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How to Treat Severe Lung Infections Using Ceftolozane and Tazobactam cover?
A medical treatment method for severe, hospital-acquired pneumonia using a specific, recurring intravenous dose of the antibiotic combination ceftolozane and tazobactam.
Who owns patent US 10028963?
Merck Sharp and Dohme LLC owns this patent, granted in 2018.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on July 24, 2038, when the invention enters the public domain.
What problem does this patent solve?
This patent protects a specific clinical dosing protocol for a potent antibiotic combination. By defining the exact dosage and timing required to fight resistant hospital-acquired pneumonia, it provides a clear legal framework for how this medication is prescribed and marketed in clinical settings.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover oral administration of these antibiotics.
Patent monitoring